The 2023 Women’s World Cup, the ninth edition of the tournament, will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20. Germany will be bidding for a third title at the global showpiece event.
Here are five Germany players to watch out for:
Alexandra Popp
One of the most influential players in the team, Popp is a reliable goalscorer for Germany. At the Euros last year, she became the first player to score a goal in every group game as well as the quarter-final and semi-final, before being forced to miss the final due to injury as the Germans lost to England.
The 32-year-old is the most experienced member of the squad, with 127 games and 61 goals for her country.
Popp, who is the captain, is also known for her aerial dominance.
Merle Frohms
After her formidable performance at the Euros last year, where she kept four clean sheets for runners-up Germany, Frohms has been a standout player.
Along with her fellow German teammate Ann-Katrin Berger, Frohms was on the longlist for the Best Goalkeeper at the FIFA awards.
She heads to the World Cup on the back of a great season for Wolfsburg, helping the team reach the Champions League final and win the DFB Cup, along with finishing second in the domestic league. She is likely to start ahead of Berger in the line-up.
Lena Oberdorf
Oberdorf is just 21 years old but is already a mature and impactful player. The central midfielder is known for her defensive playmaking and short passes.
Oberdorf is heading to her second World Cup, and this time as a rising star of the national team.
She was voted the Young Player of the Season in the 2022-23 Champions League season.
Sara Dabritz
Dabritz was part of Germany’s squad at the Euros last year and the group that won gold at the Olympics in 2016. The midfielder, who has been playing for the national team for a decade, has 17 goals in 96 appearances.
Capable of playing in a double pivot or three-player midfield, Dabritz can be a threat. She is a good passer and can also contribute offensively.
Lina Magull
Midfielder Magull has 22 goals in 77 appearances for the Germans. Apart from being a goalscorer, she is also a creative midfielder and played an important role in their Euros campaign last year.
A twice Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich, Magull scored eight goals for the side in the 2022-23 season.
She has tasted success with the national team at the youth level, winning the U-20 World Cup in 2014.
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